Lyn Ford – Affrilachian Tales

What is your relationship to stories? I grew up in a home filled with other peoples stories. Yes my parents told me stories of their ill spent youth, but my family was poor in personal mythology or fables handed down from previous generations. Yes – I had Little Red Riding Hood and the Three Little Pigs. I had piles of children books that my parents read to me, but my parents were poor in stories that they could pass on to me from my ancestors. If I was poor then Lyn Ford was rich beyond description. In her book Affrilachian Tales she has chosen to share this wealth with the world. I can count the number of storytellers on one hand who tell stories on a daily basis that come from with in their family linage.

I am proud to count Lyn Ford among that select group of American storytellers who are telling stories on stage in front of audiences that they learned at a relatives knee at the age of six or seven.

Affrilachian Tales is a warm collection of African American Appalachian Storytelling that will call your heart to a simpler time before all this new fangled technology. I found this to be a second time book. Meaning that the first time I picked up this book I was put off by the informal and homsey style. But when I persevered I was rewarded for my stubbornness with well tested sweet family storytelling that I wanted to immediately read to children. The text is written in a down home storytelling style that takes some getting used to. This book is well worth the read in the end. In fact I hope she writes a 2nd one. Affrilachian Tales is a treasure of american storytelling with versions of stories not seen elsewhere in American Storytelling Literature.

African American Appalachian Storytelling is not as well represented as a cultural group as I would like. I am always excited to see another book added to this small pool of in the library of knowledge. I would suggest that every library in the country should purchase a copy. It’s good book and a good resource for storytelling and parents, teachers or boyscout leaders to work from. That’s not why every library in the country should purchase this book. Lyn ford has managed to bubble up in one little package an uniquely american experience – one families African American Appalachian discography of their storytelling linage. Now that’s something every librarian needs!

About the Author
Lyn Ford tells stories from her native culture, the African-American tradition of the Appalachian region. Her stories are derived from family, community, the oral tradition of her culture, and he own life experience. A professional storyteller, Ford tours the United States and Canada. She has been featured at storytelling festivals throughout North America, including the National Storytelling Festival (USA). She lives in Columbus, Ohio.
http://www.storytellerlynford.com

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1. A Localist Reading List for Black History & Black Futures - BALLE — September 1, 2016 @ 4:28 pm

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